Uvero Alto Holidays

Uvero Alto is one of the most secluded villages on Punta Cana’s exclusive Coconut Coast, a majestic 50-kilometre sweep of tropical shoreline in the north-east of the Dominican Republic. Pull back the curtain of coconut trees and there’s a blanket of duvet-soft sands, where a select number of high-class resorts have put down roots.

Uvero Alto Beach is a perfectly groomed ribbon of white sand stretching into the distance, edged by a colonnade of tall palms. The warm Atlantic waters are gently shelving, so they’re perfect paddling territory for small children. There are plenty of watersports to choose from – kayaking, water-skiing and banana boats are some of the most popular. And lying just off-shore is an underwater city of coral that attracts experienced scuba divers and novices alike.

Running behind the resorts is Carretera Uvero Alto, the main road, where a couple of Dominican restaurants and a small shopping centre prove there’s life beyond the beach. There’s a brand-new waterpark at the Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort that lines up a kamikaze, a twister and a pirate ship for smaller children. And from the nearby Uvero Alto Ranch, you can take horses out for a trot.

A 25-minute drive inland is Higüey, the eastern province’s capital. In the town centre is Higüey Basilica, containing the 15th-century Virgen de la Altagracia that’s inspired countless miracles. Nearby, you can wander around the bustling daily market, and then stop at the Cigar Museum where master craftsmen roll perfect stogies with dried tobacco leaves.